Don't tell the kids

There was a segment on the news the other night highlighting research from some fancy university which indicated that children who eat dinner with their families are statistically less likely to use drugs or take part in other self destructive behaviors. I don't want a medal for this, but I can honestly say that for us family dinners were the norm. Even if someone had basketball practice, or a choir concert or some other pursuit which meant he or she missed dinner, the rest of the kids were expected to sit down together, eat dinner and make some attempt at conversation. There was the same expectation for Ernie and me. So many times there was the end of a football game, or Wimbledon or something which drew us to the TV (what are those TV trays for anyway?), but we never caved in. I think I was the weakest link, but Ernie, in spite of his love for golf, the Olympics or the national conventions, made everyone toe the line. Did this contribute to the behaviors, or lack thereof, validated by the research? Who knows?

But of late we have been letting our guard down. Dinner has been consumed in front of the television. The Senate Confirmation hearings have taken precedent over our inhibitions. We seem unscathed, but don't tell the children.